Will Hughes is nearing a departure from Watford, after a deal with Crystal Palace has finally been agreed.

The midfielder's situation has become something of a saga this summer after he rejected the offer of a new deal earlier in the transfer window.

Since then, a number of teams have come forward and registered an interest in the player, including Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Burnley, who are understood to have made an offer of £5million.

It is Palace though who are now expected to sign the player, with personal terms not thought to be an issue, having already been discussed with the player's representatives.

An offer of £5m was rejected from the Eagles last week, who remained in contact in the following days and upped their fee for a second offer, which is understood to be slightly higher than their original valuation, but could be almost double once add-ons and bonuses have been taken into consideration.

With the transfer window closing on Tuesday night, Hughes is now set to head to South London for a medical and to complete the move.

After joining Watford from Derby County in 2017, the midfielder went on to make 118 appearances in all competitions for the Hornets, scoring eight times.

The fee will be seen as the best possible outcome from a bad situation by the club, who had hoped they could convince Hughes to sign a new deal, after he played such a pivotal role in last season's promotion campaign.

The five-year contract he was offered included an increase in wages, but the player's desires lay away from Vicarage Road.

Getting money for him now was the next best option, ahead of losing him on a free transfer next summer.

At the end of last season, it appeared likely that the midfielder would still be playing in a Watford shirt for the new campaign.

Following the club's promotion, he told a post-match press conference: “I’d like to [extend my contract], but that’s in my agent’s and the club’s hands.

"That’s not something I’m really concerned about and it’s not something that I’ve really thought about. I’ll give my all for Watford until my contract is up.

"I’m really happy here and settled, back in the Premier League so there’s nothing better and that’s how I want it to remain.

“It’s as simple as that. There are no thoughts in my head about me moving elsewhere."

However those talks between his representative and the club could not be concluded successfully and the 26-year-old is now set to leave Hertfordshire to become a Palace player ahead of Tuesday night's deadline.